A memorable place to explore, Stanford University seems to whisk you away from the high-tech world into academia, but really you are right at the beginning of Silicon Valley!

Leland Stanford ran a general store for miners and earned good money after the Gold Rush in California. In 1885, he and his wife Jane founded Stanford University in honor of their son Leland Jr., who died of typhoid fever on a trip to Italy at the age of 15. With no other children of their own, Leland and Jane Stanford generously decided to give the gift of education to all the children of California. Stanford University was tuition-free until the 1920s! To explore Leland Stanford’s story, plus an extensive art collection including a large collection of Rodin sculptures, visit the Cantor Arts Center at 328 Lomita Drive.

With an acceptance rate of about 5%, Stanford is one of the hardest schools in the world to get into these days. Whether your child makes it into Stanford one day or not, it is a beautiful place to visit.​

Stanford is a great place to visit on a weekend with your family. My personal choice is to bring bikes to explore the beautiful campus atmosphere and experience nostalgic flashbacks of earlier university times. You can rent bikes on campus, or go to a college game or one of Stanford’s free lectures. Start at the Main Quad and work your way around the campus.

Download the University’s App to navigate your trip or take a free guided tour. Enjoy the atmosphere, have lunch and then browse the bookstore. Let me know if you find my book in there!